Disgruntled customer offered Virgin job

A passenger who wrote a complaint letter about the standard of Virgin Atlantic's food has been offered a job by Sir Richard Branson.

On a December 7 flight from Mumbai to Heathrow, Oliver Beale was disappointed with the in flight meals and took photographs of the dishes served up. The letter he wrote to Virgin boss Branson, which included five photos, has since appeared online.

"Imagine it's Christmas morning and you're sat there with your final present to open," wrote Beale. "It's a big one, and you know what it is. It's that Goodmans' stereo you picked out of the catalog and wrote to Santa about.

"Only you open the present and it's not in there. It's your hamster, Richard. It's your hamster in the box and it's not breathing. That's how I felt when I peeled back the foil."

A Virgin Atlantic spokesman said that an offer has been extended to the complainant to select new meals to serve on the airline.

"While we investigated his complaint seriously, and following Richard Branson's phone call, we've invited him to our catering house to select the next range of meals and wines we serve on board. Then we can ensure his personal taste is well and truly catered for," said the representative.